[Respiratory treatment of obesity hypoventilation syndrome]

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterised by daytime hypercapnia without other causes than severe obesity, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. With obesity on the rise in Denmark, OHS is becoming more prevalent. Patients are identified either in a stable phase due to symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing or during hospitalisation for acute-on-chronic respiratory failure. This review finds that mechanical treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or non-invasive ventilation should be part of a multifactorial approach focusing on compliance, as poor adherence increases the risk of treatment failure.